A preliminary study on delayed vestibulo-cerebellar effects of Tokyo Subway Sarin Poisoning in relation to gender difference: frequency analysis of postural sway.
To evaluate delayed (long-term) effects of acute sarin poisoning on postural balance, nine male and nine female victims of the Tokyo Subway Sarin Poisoning in Japan (sarin cases) were examined by computerized posturography 6-8 months after the poisoning. Their plasma cholinesterase activities (ChE) on the day of the poisoning (March 20, 1995) were 13-95 (mean 68.2) IU/l for females and 19-131 (mean 75.9) IU/l for males, which were not significantly different between the two sexes. In females, the postural sway of low frequency (0-1 Hz) in the anterior-posterior direction and area of sway with eyes open was significantly larger in the cases than in the controls. Romberg quotients for the low-frequency sway in the anterior-posterior direction for females and low-frequency sway and length of sway in the medio-lateral direction for males were significantly related to log ChE. It is suggested that a delayed effect on the vestibulo-cerebellar system was induced by acute sarin poisoning; females might be more sensitive than males.
Yokoyama
K
K
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Araki
S
S
Murata
K
K
Nishikitani
M
M
Okumura
T
T
Ishimatsu
S
S
Takasu
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture; D015995:Prevalence; D012524:Sarin / Q000506:poisoning*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014041:Tokyo; D014186:Transportation; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence; D014792:Visual Acuity
D012524:Sarin